Milwaukee Running Festival announces title sponsor

“With PNC as the title sponsor, the Milwaukee Running Festival has cleared another hurdle in bringing this unique event to life,” said Chris Ponteri, executive director of Milwaukee Marathon Inc., the nonprofit company organizing the new running event. “We believe the PNC Milwaukee Running Festival will become the premier running event in the state of Wisconsin.”

Ponteri has been working with the City of Milwaukee on an operating agreement that would govern the public works and police services necessary for a marathon run completely within city limits, through neighborhoods from the Henry Maier Festival Park on the lakefront to Miller Park. The City Attorney’s office is preparing the agreement that will serve as the special use permit necessary for the running festival.

Ponteri said he hoped to have the agreement ready for a meeting of the Common Council Public Works Committee on Jan. 28, but acknowledged the review of the contract may be put off to February.

The marathon organizers will be required to pay for all city services, according to a resolution approved by the Milwaukee Common Council. The festival won preliminary approval from the council in mid November.

Registration for the marathon, half marathon and 5K races opened in early December. In its first year, the marathon field will be capped at 3,500 and the half marathon at 6,500. Combined, the festival would be one of the largest running events in the state.

Ponteri said Thursday that the races are not close to capacity, at this time.